BJP seeks resignation of Bihar minister

Patna/Samastipur: Opposition BJP on Friday demanded resignation of Bihar minister Baidyanath Sahni in the wake of registration of an FIR against him for laying the foundation stone of petrol pump on a plot of land in a college campus in his native Samastipur district, which he claims was in his name.

Leader of opposition Nand Kishore Yadav raised the issue of registration of FIR against the minister during Zero Hour in the Assembly and demanded his resignation till he was cleared of the charges.

Chief Minister said that action would be taken if the minister was found guilty. Besides this, the opposition leader also spoke about lodging of FIR against a JD(U) MLA in Bhakhtiyarpur and another one in Gopalganj for allegedly seeking extorion money.

He alleged that the JD(U) government has failed to maintain law and order since the time it came closer to RJD, which he said, was known as ‘Jungle Raj’ during its rule.

This was protested by RJD members in the House. Minister in-charge for Home Vijay Chaudhary dismissed the opposition charge and said registration of complaints against a person like a minister proves that the government promoted transparency and did not spare even higher ups.

But, this did not satisfy the BJP members who trooped into well and shouted ‘Return of Jungle Raj II’ in Bihar.

Sahni, who is Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fishery, defended himself. He said outside the Assembly main entrance that the land on which he had gone to lay the foundation stone of a petrol pump at Nikaspur on Wednesday was in his name and he has not done anything illegal.

Sahni was held hostage in the college for nearly three hours by villagers who fought pitched battle with his supporters that day. The minister was later escorted by police to his home.

While BJP targeted the ruling JD(U) government alleging deterioration in law and order situation, the ruling party dismissed the charge.

Senior minister Narendra Singh told reporters that the state government was sensitive towards maintenance of law and order.

Meanwhile, a report from Samastipur said that three FIRs have been registered with Tazpur police station in connection with violence that took place when the minister had gone to lay foundation stone of petrol pump on Wednesday.

One FIR has been registered on the basis of the statement of Block Development Officer of Morwa Nirmal Kumar for violation of model code of conduct as by-poll at Mohiuddinnagar has been notified.

Another one has been lodged on complaint of ‘college bachao sangarsh samiti’ making the minister an accused of grabbing land which was gifted by a local to the college in the past.

The minister's father Neklal Sahni has also lodged an FIR against 11 villagers including a district level leader of Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, an ally of BJP.